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AdultPLSRCTNCT01939925

Communicating Evidence From Systematic Reviews to the Public

A study testing New plain language summary format and Current plain language summary format in people with Adult, run by Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services at 5 sites in 5 countries.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this randomised controlled trial is to compare a new standardised summary format for presentation of synthesised evidence from systematic reviews for the public (a new plain language summary format) to the current format used in Cochrane systematic reviews. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 16 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Adult
What is being tested?
New plain language summary format and Current plain language summary format
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
193 participants
Where
5 sitesin 5 countries
Study dates
May 2009to Oct 2009
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 16 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • patients or members of the public 16 years or older

Who cannot join

None listed.

Trial locations and contacts

5 sites in 5 countries.

5 sites in 5 countries

Argentina1 site
  • Argentine Cochrane Centre, Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (IECS)

    Buenos Aires

Other trials in Argentina

Canada1 site
  • University of Ottawa

    Ottawa, Ontario

Other trials in Canada

Italy1 site
  • University of Milan

    Milan

Other trials in Italy

Norway1 site
  • Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services

    Oslo

Other trials in Norway

Spain1 site
  • Centro Cochrane Iberoamericano - Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau

    Barcelona

Other trials in Spain

About this study

Official title: Communicating Evidence From Systematic Reviews to the Public: A Randomised Controlled Trial

The purpose of this randomised controlled trial is to compare a new standardised summary format for presentation of synthesised evidence from systematic reviews for the public (a new plain language summary format) to the current format used in Cochrane systematic reviews. The study will evaluate if the new presentation improves understanding about the benefits and harms of an intervention, if it improves the accessibility of the information, and if it is preferred over other versions by the public over the current format.

Conditions
Adult
Being tested
New plain language summary format, Current plain language summary format
Keywords
patient education, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, comprehension, consumer health information
Medical subject headings
Behavior

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • New plain language summary formatOther

    New plain language summary includes qualitative and quantitative description of text (absolute effects and natural frequencies provided); quantitative results provided in a table; quality of the evidence according to GRADE provided in a table; question and answer format; follows principles of linguistic frameworks (e.g. progressive movements from introduction to 'bottom line')

  • Current plain language summary formatOther

    Current plain language summary includes qualitative description of effects only; inconsistent description of the quality of the evidence; paragraph of text; inconsistent flow of information

Study groups in NCT01939925
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
New plain language summary formatExperimentalNew plain language summary format of a Cochrane systematic review
Receives: Other: New plain language summary format
Current plain language summary formatActive comparatorPlain Language Summary format for the public currently in use in Cochrane systematic reviews
Receives: Other: Current plain language summary format

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Understanding of benefits and harms

    Average proportion of people who answered 5 multiple choice questions correctly. Each question includes five response options about the number of people who could benefit or be harmed by the intervention and about the quality of evidence

    Measured: After reading summary - time 0

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Number of questions answered correctly

    Total number of questions out of five questions for benefits and harms that were answered correctly

    Measured: After reading summary - time 0

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted11 Sep 2013 (estimated)
  2. Study startMay 2009
  3. Primary completionOct 2009
  4. Study completionOct 2009

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
193 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01939925
Sponsor's protocol ID
PLSRCT1
Acronym
PLSRCT
Status last verified
Sep 2013
First submitted
27 Aug 2013
Last updated
11 Sep 2013
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing New plain language summary format and Current plain language summary format in people with Adult, run by Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services at 5 sites in 5 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Sep 2013. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 5 sites in Argentina, Canada, Italy, Norway, Spain. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Understanding of benefits and harms (time frame: After reading summary - time 0). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Sep 2013.

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